Ever see a group of girls happy, no, downright giddy to run line drills?
Earlier this month, you could have observed that very sight if you walked into the right Morgantown gymnasium.
There the NCWV Swish 2023 team finally held its first practice of the AAU season.
Bear in mind, this is a season that normally starts in March. It’s now June. Thanks COVID-19.
But whether March or May or June, these ladies love to hoop. Their coach, Shinnston’s David Sturm, is equally as elated to get back into the gym.
“It’s nice to get back in the gym,” Sturm said. “I think the kids are really excited and they’ve been working hard and, I think, they appreciate it a little more right now.
“That first night back it was more like a social gathering, everybody seeing everybody but then we got right to work.”
Through the use of social media and camera phones, Sturm gave his players skill-specific workouts to perform to stay sharp.
They did so gladly, enjoying what little basketball could be had given pandemic restrictions.
The quarantine, however, was not as kind to their cardiovascular conditioning.
“There’s a difference between regular in-shape and basketball shape,” Sturm said. “We had to get a lot of that back because many hadn’t been working out like that.
“The conditioning side of it is hard to replicate. So, we’ve tried to focus a lot on that during the first couple weeks.”
Valley’s Top Young Talent Heads South
The Swish organization has girls playing from the youth leagues up through impending high school seniors.
The majority hail from Harrison, Marion, Monongalia or Barbour counties. The organization is 90 players strong.
But this last offseson, Sturm was able to secures the services of some of the OVACs top incoming sophomores.
The local linchpin is 6-foot-3 second-team all-Ohio forward Reagan Vinskovich from Union Local.
Vinskovich played for the OV Shock last season, but took in a few tournaments with Sturm’s team.
The families got to know one another, and Sturm convinced Vinskovich to play for his team full time.
In the process, he also snagged her Shock teammates Megan Malin from St. Clairsville and Hannah Raper from River.
In addition, Sturm picked up incoming Wheeling Central freshman Brooklyn Edge, who splits time between the Swish’s 2023 and 2024 teams.
“I got to know Reagan’s mom and the family a little bit and she ended up playing with us some last year,” Sturm said. “It worked out well and some of the other girls from her OV Shock team were interested.
“We tried to show up and watch some of their games throughout the winter and stay in touch.”
Different Kind of Organization
The Swish is a younger but successful program.
Last season, the 2021/2022 team won the Teammate/Sports Illustrated National Championship tournament in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The 2023 team did the same.
You’ll find all-state players from both Ohio and West Virginia and some of PrepGirlsHoops.com’s higher ranked players.
Vinskovich is the No. 11 player in Ohio for 2023.
Talent is a necessity to make this team. As is a dedicated work ethic and desire to improve.
You know what isn’t needed? Money.
There’s no exorbitant registration fee to play for the Swish. That also is a rarity in today’s competitive AAU market.
“We all have jobs. We don’t do this for a living, so we don’t charge them to play,” Sturm said. “There are no fees to the organization. We’re able to raise money through donations and fundraisers.”
Sturm’s been on the opposite side of the equation. He knows how pricey it can get.
He’s been coaching for 31 years, long before the first of his four daughters was born.
But when Victoria and Jaden Sturm were able to start playing competitively, their parents had to shell out a good bit to make that happen.
“That first year my girls were old enough, the two were playing on a travel team and that was about $600-800 per child,” Sturm said. “I started looking at this like we can do the same thing without charging.
“So I got together with a few individuals and together we put together the team.”
Nearly Tournament Time
The National Travel Basketball Association is hosting its girls’ national tournament next weekend in Myrtle Beach.
The elder Swish teams planned to take part.
But COVID, and a recent outbreak in West Virginia of resident who recently traveled to Myrtle Beach may place a kibosh on those plans.
“Talking with some of the parents, the we may have to cancel playing,” Sturm said. “The governor issued a statement that you have to quarantine yourself after you come back.
“Some of the girls are disappointed about not getting to go play, but number one, we have to protect them health wise.”
Sturm is now searching for other tournaments to fill the void the next few weeks.
Ohio tournaments are still not an option.
Phase II’s implementation this week allowed contact sports teams to begin practicing and scrimmaging. That scrimmage, however, is limited to intrasquad.
That means no head-to-head contests and no tournaments.
So again, the girls and their coach wait, like many other teams across the tri-state area. But at least this time, they can practice.
